Galesburg Radio 14 WGIL » Local Newshttp://wgil.com/v3
Radio designed for the people of GalesburgTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:12:17 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Seventh Grade Student Gives “Extra Effort” to Prevent Bullyinghttp://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/03/seventh-grade-student-gives-extra-effort-to-prevent-bullying/
http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/03/seventh-grade-student-gives-extra-effort-to-prevent-bullying/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:12:17 +0000http://wgil.com/v3/?p=26410Standing up to prevent bullying. That is what one middle school student was awarded for doing at last nights city council meeting.Galesburg City Council members acknowledged Katie Dunbar of Lombard Middle school last night..for the creation of her “Take a Stand Club.”

Dunbar ..who is in the seventh grade..says the club is designed so that students can face bullying together. Galesburg Mayor John Pritchard presented Dunbar with the Galesburg Youth Extra Effort Award..which was sponsored by the Galesburg Youth Commission.

The seven member group meets once every other week after school…and by the end of the year.. the group hopes to expand to 10 members.

]]>Standing up to prevent bullying. That is what one middle school student was awarded for doing at last nights city council meeting.Galesburg City Council members acknowledged Katie Dunbar of Lombard Middle school last night..for the creation of her “Take a Stand Club.”

Dunbar ..who is in the seventh grade..says the club is designed so that students can face bullying together. Galesburg Mayor John Pritchard presented Dunbar with the Galesburg Youth Extra Effort Award..which was sponsored by the Galesburg Youth Commission.

The seven member group meets once every other week after school…and by the end of the year.. the group hopes to expand to 10 members.

]]>http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/03/seventh-grade-student-gives-extra-effort-to-prevent-bullying/feed/0Historic Kensington to Celebrate 100 Years.http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/03/historic-kensington-to-celebrate-100-years/
http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/03/historic-kensington-to-celebrate-100-years/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:03:45 +0000http://wgil.com/v3/?p=26386A local landmark in Galesburg is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its historic building tomorrow.

The Kensington and the Kensington Employee Recognition Committee will celebrate the occasion by serving Reuben sandwiches to commemorate the anniversary of a building that once housed the historic Hotel Custer.

Kensington Office Manager Jamie Avery tells the WGIL Evening news that the same recipe used in the 1920’s by Reuben creator Bernie Schimmel will be served tomorrow.

The Kensington staff opens its doors to the public tomorrow from 11 to 1.

]]>A local landmark in Galesburg is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its historic building tomorrow.

The Kensington and the Kensington Employee Recognition Committee will celebrate the occasion by serving Reuben sandwiches to commemorate the anniversary of a building that once housed the historic Hotel Custer.

Kensington Office Manager Jamie Avery tells the WGIL Evening news that the same recipe used in the 1920’s by Reuben creator Bernie Schimmel will be served tomorrow.

The Kensington staff opens its doors to the public tomorrow from 11 to 1.

The SAFER grant..or Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant is a FEMA designed grant. The design would allow the city to hire two new firefighters to the staff…returning all shifts to 14 members.

Since 2009..the fire department has lost 6 firefighters…Currently there are 44 staffed.
Galesburg City Manager Todd Thompson says that the idea is to discontinue the grant once two new firefighters join.

“I think the anticipation would be that we wouldn’t continue the grant, and that the people that were hired would stay on” says Thompson. ” The positions would then become open to attrition. It wouldn’t come from letting people go, it would come from other folks retiring, and it’s typical to have a number of people retiring–we can anticipate that within the next couple of years.”

The application will now be sent off this Friday..further discussion on whether to approve the measure itself however has not yet been determined.

Meanwhile..council members approved a bid to remove a number of emerald ash bore trees throughout the City of Galesburg.

Guither Tree Service of Princeton will now remove over 103 trees throughout the city.

]]>The Galesburg City Council met last night and approved a grant application that could benefit the Galesburg Fire Department.

The SAFER grant..or Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant is a FEMA designed grant. The design would allow the city to hire two new firefighters to the staff…returning all shifts to 14 members.

Since 2009..the fire department has lost 6 firefighters…Currently there are 44 staffed.
Galesburg City Manager Todd Thompson says that the idea is to discontinue the grant once two new firefighters join.

“I think the anticipation would be that we wouldn’t continue the grant, and that the people that were hired would stay on” says Thompson. ” The positions would then become open to attrition. It wouldn’t come from letting people go, it would come from other folks retiring, and it’s typical to have a number of people retiring–we can anticipate that within the next couple of years.”

The application will now be sent off this Friday..further discussion on whether to approve the measure itself however has not yet been determined.

Meanwhile..council members approved a bid to remove a number of emerald ash bore trees throughout the City of Galesburg.

Guither Tree Service of Princeton will now remove over 103 trees throughout the city.

Midway Auto Parts owner Jim Lenz will reportedly fill the vacancy left by former school board president Bob Bogard.
Bogard who served on the board for many years, passed away in January, leaving a vacancy as then vice president Patrick Callahan assumed Bogard’s position.

Lenz is the son in law of Bogard..he is a resident of Knox Township..as well as a 1981 graduate of Knoxville High School.

The decision comes after months of absence. Due to board policy..because Bogard had fewer than 868 days left to serve in his term..board members were able to appoint a new member instead of holding a special election.

Follwing a request for letters of intent…the board narrowed it’s list from eight candidates down to four…and last week the “final four” were interviewed in special session.

The three other candidates include Tom Worden, Jared Hawksinon, and Clyde Grady.

The board is expected to seat Lenz at their regularly scheduled meeting on March 16th.

Midway Auto Parts owner Jim Lenz will reportedly fill the vacancy left by former school board president Bob Bogard.
Bogard who served on the board for many years, passed away in January, leaving a vacancy as then vice president Patrick Callahan assumed Bogard’s position.

Lenz is the son in law of Bogard..he is a resident of Knox Township..as well as a 1981 graduate of Knoxville High School.

The decision comes after months of absence. Due to board policy..because Bogard had fewer than 868 days left to serve in his term..board members were able to appoint a new member instead of holding a special election.

Follwing a request for letters of intent…the board narrowed it’s list from eight candidates down to four…and last week the “final four” were interviewed in special session.

The three other candidates include Tom Worden, Jared Hawksinon, and Clyde Grady.

The board is expected to seat Lenz at their regularly scheduled meeting on March 16th.

Plunger’s dove into Galesburg’s Lake Storey in support of fundraising for Western Area 4 Special Olympics Illinois.

Polar Plunge Event Coordinator Cathy Betar says participants are still raising money…and will be up until April 30th..the last day that donations will be accepted for the Galesburg event.

Currently Betar says the event has raised over $53,000..just $8,000 shy of the overall goal.

Betar tells WGIL that a follow up event in particular should keep funds coming in.

“Buffalo Wild Wings has offered up for us to come out on Wednesday, to do a little charity night,” says Betar. ” “We’re going to have some silent auction items, as well as they are going to donate ten percent of the proceeds to our plunge, so that should help us get even closer to our goal. We’re really excited about that.”

Funds from the Galesburg plunge and donations collected from the post-plunge events will be combined with a similar plunge that will take place in a couple weeks in Rock Island Illinois.

Betar says that she was happy with the results of Saturday. She says she didn’t know if participants would show up due to weather. She says overall the event went according to plan.

]]>Nearly 300 participants turned out yesterday for the 13th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge.

Plunger’s dove into Galesburg’s Lake Storey in support of fundraising for Western Area 4 Special Olympics Illinois.

Polar Plunge Event Coordinator Cathy Betar says participants are still raising money…and will be up until April 30th..the last day that donations will be accepted for the Galesburg event.

Currently Betar says the event has raised over $53,000..just $8,000 shy of the overall goal.

Betar tells WGIL that a follow up event in particular should keep funds coming in.

“Buffalo Wild Wings has offered up for us to come out on Wednesday, to do a little charity night,” says Betar. ” “We’re going to have some silent auction items, as well as they are going to donate ten percent of the proceeds to our plunge, so that should help us get even closer to our goal. We’re really excited about that.”

Funds from the Galesburg plunge and donations collected from the post-plunge events will be combined with a similar plunge that will take place in a couple weeks in Rock Island Illinois.

Betar says that she was happy with the results of Saturday. She says she didn’t know if participants would show up due to weather. She says overall the event went according to plan.

Guither Tree Service of Princeton is reportedly the lowest bidder. They will remove 103 ash trees for a cost of $96,779..money that will come out of the City of Galesburg’s Forestry Division Budget.

If the board approves the expense..crews will begin work within the next few weeks. Guither is expected to remove a majority of infected trees between Losey Street and Carl Sandburg Drive..as well as additional trees near Bunker Links Golf Course and Lake Storey.

Council members are also expected to present information regarding re-zoning property on West Second Street.

Head Start Pre-School could become the recipient of re-zoning. Head Starts parent company West Central Community Services intends to make classroom and playground renovations the building.

]]>The Galesburg City Council will meet tonight to discuss multiple agenda items..including a tree removal bid that would remove emerald ash borer trees on city property.

Guither Tree Service of Princeton is reportedly the lowest bidder. They will remove 103 ash trees for a cost of $96,779..money that will come out of the City of Galesburg’s Forestry Division Budget.

If the board approves the expense..crews will begin work within the next few weeks. Guither is expected to remove a majority of infected trees between Losey Street and Carl Sandburg Drive..as well as additional trees near Bunker Links Golf Course and Lake Storey.

Council members are also expected to present information regarding re-zoning property on West Second Street.

Head Start Pre-School could become the recipient of re-zoning. Head Starts parent company West Central Community Services intends to make classroom and playground renovations the building.

]]>http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/02/city-council-to-discuss-tree-removal-bid/feed/0Local Dentist to Retirehttp://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/02/local-dentist-to-retire/
http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/02/local-dentist-to-retire/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 01:48:04 +0000http://wgil.com/v3/?p=26359After nearly 40 years in the industry as well as serving his local community, a Galesburg-Area dentist is retiring and handing over his practice.

Ruel Owen..of Owen Family Dentistry will be retiring and giving up his practice to Dr. Adam Welty. Owen who says it is “bittersweet” to be leaving..also says he’s relieved to be moving on.

Owen tells the WGIL Evening News that one of the things he’s seen change the most in his 40 years of work is technology…something that has gone to a digital world.

“The one thing that we’ve been involved with for probably over 10 years, is the ability to make crowns in one visit,” says Owen. “So we can scan the tooth and then digitally make the crown, and then place it in the patients mouth. It saves a visit and it’s high tech, and more and more our office is becoming digital with digital x-rays.”

Owen says the practice no longer uses things such as charts whatsoever.

]]>After nearly 40 years in the industry as well as serving his local community, a Galesburg-Area dentist is retiring and handing over his practice.

Ruel Owen..of Owen Family Dentistry will be retiring and giving up his practice to Dr. Adam Welty. Owen who says it is “bittersweet” to be leaving..also says he’s relieved to be moving on.

Owen tells the WGIL Evening News that one of the things he’s seen change the most in his 40 years of work is technology…something that has gone to a digital world.

“The one thing that we’ve been involved with for probably over 10 years, is the ability to make crowns in one visit,” says Owen. “So we can scan the tooth and then digitally make the crown, and then place it in the patients mouth. It saves a visit and it’s high tech, and more and more our office is becoming digital with digital x-rays.”

Owen says the practice no longer uses things such as charts whatsoever.

]]>http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/02/local-dentist-to-retire/feed/0Williamsfield Ready for PARCC Examhttp://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/01/williamsfield-ready-for-parcc-exam/
http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/01/williamsfield-ready-for-parcc-exam/#commentsSun, 01 Mar 2015 12:57:52 +0000http://wgil.com/v3/?p=26297Assessing students on what they have been learning in the classroom, that is what one local school district superintendent says his district will be able to do if a new standardized test is administered by the state.

Williamsfield Superintendent Tim Farquer (FAR-kur) spoke to the House Education Curriculum and Policies Committee last week, expressing his interest in the PARCC examination.

Farquer says his district is ready for the exam..and has been ready for some time.

“We’ve been teaching to the standard for 3 and a half years,” says Farquer. “We’re at a point where we really need this measurement, as to how well our students are doing with relationship to these skills.”

Districts state wide have had disagreements on the exam..ever since it was proposed. Farquer says that although some of his superintendent colleagues disagree with his opinion, he believes the exam teaches important learning objectives that are not a waste of instructional time.

Farquer..who has children of his own within..the district, says he wants his kids to be able to persevere through the objectives in the framework of the exam..which include mathematics, research, and writing.

Williamsfield is a rural one building district. The exam would be administered to all 300 students grade K-12.

]]>Assessing students on what they have been learning in the classroom, that is what one local school district superintendent says his district will be able to do if a new standardized test is administered by the state.

Williamsfield Superintendent Tim Farquer (FAR-kur) spoke to the House Education Curriculum and Policies Committee last week, expressing his interest in the PARCC examination.

Farquer says his district is ready for the exam..and has been ready for some time.

“We’ve been teaching to the standard for 3 and a half years,” says Farquer. “We’re at a point where we really need this measurement, as to how well our students are doing with relationship to these skills.”

Districts state wide have had disagreements on the exam..ever since it was proposed. Farquer says that although some of his superintendent colleagues disagree with his opinion, he believes the exam teaches important learning objectives that are not a waste of instructional time.

Farquer..who has children of his own within..the district, says he wants his kids to be able to persevere through the objectives in the framework of the exam..which include mathematics, research, and writing.

Williamsfield is a rural one building district. The exam would be administered to all 300 students grade K-12.

]]>http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/01/williamsfield-ready-for-parcc-exam/feed/014-Year Old to Attend Local Collegehttp://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/01/14-year-old-to-attend-local-college/
http://wgil.com/v3/2015/03/01/14-year-old-to-attend-local-college/#commentsSun, 01 Mar 2015 12:52:23 +0000http://wgil.com/v3/?p=26295A local college will reportedly enroll a teenager this year.

14-year old Peoria native Andrew Ferris, who would normally enter the 8th grade at his age, will instead enter Knox College this March.

A long line of Ferris men have reportedly gone to Knox including Andrew’s great-great-great grandfather George Washington Gale Ferris, a co-founder of the college itself.

The teenager will begin with two courses this spring..and is then expected to become a full time student by the Fall semester.

However,due to his age, state law says that Ferris will not be allowed to live in student housing. Ferris’ mother, Barbara Ferris-McCone will reportedly commute from Peoria to drop her son off at the college.

An older brother, Zachary Ferris also attends Knox. He is currently 17, both children were home schooled for several years.

14-year old Peoria native Andrew Ferris, who would normally enter the 8th grade at his age, will instead enter Knox College this March.

A long line of Ferris men have reportedly gone to Knox including Andrew’s great-great-great grandfather George Washington Gale Ferris, a co-founder of the college itself.

The teenager will begin with two courses this spring..and is then expected to become a full time student by the Fall semester.

However,due to his age, state law says that Ferris will not be allowed to live in student housing. Ferris’ mother, Barbara Ferris-McCone will reportedly commute from Peoria to drop her son off at the college.

An older brother, Zachary Ferris also attends Knox. He is currently 17, both children were home schooled for several years.